Toy top.



TOY TOP. 'APPLIOATIONHLED JUNE s. 1905;

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r holding the top to spin it.

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TOY TOP.

To, all whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that i, JAMES A. IVING, of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania,

have invented certain new and useful Im-v provements in Toy Tops, whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to toy tops of the kind comprising an outer casing in which is mounted va balance-wheel arranged to be rotated independently of the casing by means of a drivinglcord.'

As hereinafter described, my invention comprises a top having a .cup-shaped casing open at one end and having a central shaftin rigid relation with said casing, upon which a balance wheel is mounted to rotate, said wheel filling the lopen end of the casing and having a hub adapted to receive a driving? cord and said shaft being provided with a knob Ywhich retains the wheel in the ycasing independently of the latter.

My invention comprehends .the various novel features of construction and arrange- ,ment hereinafter more definitely specified.

In the drawings, Figure I is a vertical sectional view of atop conveniently embodyin Fig. II is a sectiona view similar to Fig. I, but showin a modified form of my invention.v Fig. VII is a plan view of the top shown in Fig; II. Fig IV is a perspective view showing a convenient Way of Fig. V shows another Wa of holding the top to spin it.

In sai figures, 1 is a cup-shaped casing,

conveniently formed of wood, having the open-ended chamber -2 in the upper portion thereof and having the central shaft 3 permanently secured thereinv conveniently by frictional engagement with the resilient material of said casing.- Said shaft 3 is provided with the pointed head 4, having the shoulder 5 engaging the casing 1 and supporting the latter in operative'position Said casing comprises the raised bearing 6 in concentric relation with said shaft 3 in said chamber 2, provided'with the bearing-washer 7, supporting the balance-wheel 8. Said wheel 8 is provided with the hub 9 and is retained in proper position on said shaft bythe knob'11, conveniently secured on said shaft by the screwthread 12, the bearing-washer 13 bein interposed between said hub and knob. t is to be understood that said knob may be otherwise secured on said shaft. For instance, the knob beingv of resilient mate- Specification `of Letters Patent. f Patented March 13, 19C6. vvApplication led J'iune 8, 1905. n Serial Noi-264,220. i

rial, such as wood, said shaft may be driven into a cylindrical hole in it', primarily somewhat smaller than the shaft.

z It may be observed that the construction above described is such that although the casing 1 is open at the upper end of the chamber 2 it is apparently closed by the presentation of the side of the wheel'8 flush with the upper edge of said casing, so that a drivingcord 15 may be directly engaged with the hub 9 on'said wheel. I

As shown in Fig. I, the top may be spun by a single bight or loop of the cord 15 around said hub 9, the cord being drawn in the direction of the arrow indicated on said figure and the'top-casing 1 being held stationary either by grasping the knob 11, as indicated in Fig. IV, or by grasping the casing 1, as indicated in Fig. V. However, the most convenient way in which to spin said top is that indicated in Fig. IV, wherein the cord is tightly l wrapped for a considerable portion of its length on the hub 9.

In the form of my invention shown in Figs. II and III the upper edge of the casing 1 is provided with an overhanging iiange 17, conveniently formed as part of a sheet-metal annulus having a cylindrical flange 18, which may be 'tightly forcedupon the exterior of said casing 1. As shown in Fig` III, the liange 17 may be provided with the circular scale of numbered sections 20 and the wheel i 8 may be provided with the index-point 21, so that the top may be employed as a counter in a game, the several sections being given dierent values by numerals 22 or otherwise.

. I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details of construction and arrangement of the parts herein set forth, as it is obvious that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the essential features of my invention.

' /I claim- 1. In a toy top, the combination with an outer casing, open at one end; of a shaft xed in said casing and extending through both ends thereof;l a balance-wheel arranged to rotate on said shaft within said casing at the open end thereof; and, means carried by said shaft independently of said casing retaining said wheel in said casing, substantially as set forth. ,l

2. In a toy top, the combination with an outer casing, open .at one end; of a shaft fixed in said casing and extending through both ends thereof a balance-wheel arranged to IOO IIO

rotate on said shaft Within said casing at the open end thereof; and, a knob carried by said shaft independently of said casing retaining aidhwheel in said easing, substantially as set ort 3. In a toy top, the combination with an outer casing, open at one end; of a shaft fixed in said easing and extending through both ends thereof; a head on said shaft arranged to support the top in operative position; a balancewheel arranged to rotate on said shaft wi thin said casing at the o en end thereof; and,means earriedbysaid sha tinde endentlyof said easing retaining said wheel) in said casing, substantially as set forth.

4. In a toy top, the combination with an outer casing, open at one end; of a shaft fixed in said easing and extending through both ends thereof; a conical head on said shaft having shoulders supporting said casing in operative position; a balance-wheel arranged to rotate on said shaft Within said casing at the open end thereof; and7 means carried by said shaft independently of said easing retaining said Wheel in said casing, substantially as set forth.

5. In a toy top; the combination with an outer casing, open at one end; of a balancewheel arranged to rotate Within said casing independently thereof; a shaft xed in said casing and extending through said Wheel exteror to said easing; means on said shaft retaining said wheel in said casing; a bearing- Washer between said easing and said wheel; and, a bearing-washer between said wheel and the wheel-retaining means, substantially as set forth.

6. In a toy top, 'the combination with an outer casing7 open at one end; of a balance- Wheel arranged to rotate within said casing independently thereof; a shaft fixed in said casing and extending through said wheel exteror to said easing; means on said shaft retaining said Wheel in said casing; a flange on said casing overhanging the upper edge of said wheel a scale on said flange; and, an index on said wheel arranged to register with different sections of said scale, substantially as set forth.

7. In a toy top, the combination with an outer casing; of a balance-wheel arranged to rotate wi thin said casing independently thereof; a shaft fixed in said easing and extending through said wheel exterior to said easing; means on said shaft retaining said Wheel in said casing; a flange on said casing overhanging the upper edge of said wheel; a scale on said fiange' comprising a series of sections; means on said flange indicating different values for the respective sections; and, an index on said wheel arranged to register with different sections of said scale, substantially as set forth.

8. In a toy top, the combination with an outer casing of resilient material open at one end; of a shaft fixed in said casing 3 a balancewheel arranged to Vrotate on said shaft within said easing at the open end thereof; means carried by said shaft independently of said easing retaining said wheel in said easing; and a primarily separate annulus comprisin i' a fiange overhangingthe u per edge of sai wheel, substantially as set orth.

9. In a toy top, the combination with an outer easing of resilient material open at one end; of a shaft fixed in said casing; a balancewheel arranged to rotate on said shaft within said casing at the open end thereof; means carried by said shaft independently of said easing retaining said wheel in said casing; a primarily se arate annulus of metal having a cylindrical ange embracing said casing; and a fiange overhanging said wheel, substantially as set forth.

In tesimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name, at Philadelphia, Pennsyvania, this 7th day of June, 1905.

JAMES A. IRVING.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR E. PAIGE, CLIFTON C. HALLowELL. 

